Entertainment

Mama G Advises Parents: Don’t Shield Children from Life’s Struggles

Published

2 hours ago

September 3, 2026

Mama G Advises Parents: Don’t Shield Children from Life’s Struggles

Veteran Nollywood actress Mama G recalls selling buns and chicken to survive before stardom, warns parents against over-pampering children.

Veteran Nollywood actress Patience Ozokwor, popularly known as Mama G, has urged parents to resist the temptation to make life completely comfortable for their children, arguing that some struggle can prepare them for adulthood. Ozokwor said children who grow up without understanding the effort required to provide basic comforts may struggle to appreciate or sustain what their parents worked hard to build. “When you say, ‘I don’t want my children to suffer what I suffered when I was growing up,’ okay, that’s the best way to destroy your children,” she said. “I’m not saying allow them to suffer. What I’m saying is allow them to struggle. Go through the process.” The actress spoke in an interview with Femi Bassey TV on YouTube, shared on Wednesday, September 1, 2026. Reflecting on the difficult experiences that shaped her own journey to success, Ozokwor said the lesson was not simply about enduring hardship but learning responsibility through the process of working for what one wants.

She recalled that before becoming established in Nollywood, she sold food at movie locations and audition venues to raise money for transportation. “There was a time I was frying buns. When I first came into the industry, I would prepare chicken and dress it well. I would prepare buns for anyone you want to buy them.” According to her, the small-scale food business became one of the ways she supported herself as she pursued opportunities in the movie industry. She said she would take the food to audition places, where people would buy from her, and she would save the proceeds to cover her transportation and other expenses. The actress said her willingness to work and fend for herself was part of the resilience she developed from a young age. “I really struggled to get to where I am today. It wasn’t flowery; it wasn’t an easy thing. My life is full of spirituality, deep prayer. When others are sleeping, I am praying,” she said.

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Ozokwor also spoke about the sacrifices she made during her marriage, explaining that she never pressured her husband to provide the kind of lifestyle she saw other women enjoying. “Some women, when they get married, they tell their husbands, ‘This one bought a car for his wife, this one bought a house for his wife. What are you not doing?'” she said. According to the actress, she understood her husband and chose to work with what they had rather than compare him with other men. “I didn’t wait for my husband. I knew the kind of person he was. I studied my husband. I buttoned up and tightened my belt, and I struggled.” The situation became even more challenging when her husband battled serious health problems for several years. “Incidentally, he was sick for so many years. It was a horrible sickness — diabetes and hypertension together — and it was a struggle.” At a time, her children also grew up and began helping her run the household, which she believes helped shape them into the responsible adults they are today.

Using her personal experience, Ozokwor urged parents to resist the temptation to make life completely comfortable for their children, arguing that some struggle can prepare them for adulthood. She said children who grow up without understanding the effort required to provide basic comforts may struggle to appreciate or sustain what their parents worked hard to build. “When you say, ‘I don’t want my children to suffer what I suffered when I was growing up,’ okay, that’s the best way to destroy your children,” she said. “I’m not saying allow them to suffer. What I’m saying is allow them to struggle. Go through the process.” The actress said she deliberately ensured that her children also understood that comfort comes with responsibility and that family wealth should not become an excuse for laziness. She recalled that three of her sons helped with construction work while they were university students, stressing that she wanted them to understand the effort involved in creating the life they enjoyed. “I don’t say that your children will go through all the pains you went through, but let them go through little pains. Then they will know that it is not easy to make,” she said.

Ozokwor further warned parents against giving their children everything without teaching them how to preserve, multiply and work for what they receive. “But when you pamper them, they don’t come out to be anything,” she said. “Don’t get this on a platter of gold. It’s not easy. Your father built three houses, four houses and you think you can balance on eating it.” She also spoke about family wealth, saying children should not simply expect to inherit everything their parents worked for. “Keep the things that you have and let them know that you go get yours, this is mine,” she added. The actress revealed that she applied the same approach to her own son, telling him to work for his own home instead of assuming that her house belonged to him. “I told my son, my house isn’t yours, go and work for your own,” she said. Ozokwor said the lessons her children learned from watching her struggle have helped them become self-reliant, adding that they are now comfortable because they understand the sacrifices that went into building the family’s success. “My children know the pains of making life better and that’s why they are all comfortable now, struggling on their own,” she said.

Mama G Advises Parents: Don’t Shield Children from Life’s Struggles

Entertainment

Nollywood Actress Atinuke Kareem Dies After Brave Battle with Breast Cancer

Published

1 day ago

September 2, 2026

Trends Admin

Nollywood Actress Atinuke Kareem Dies After Brave Battle with Breast Cancer

The Yoruba film industry mourns another loss as the actress passes away just days after veteran actor Taiwo Hassan (Ogogo) succumbed to stage-four cancer.

The Nigerian entertainment industry has been thrown into mourning once again following the death of Nollywood actress Atinuke Remilekun Kareem, who passed away on Tuesday after a prolonged battle with breast cancer. The Ogun State chapter of the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN) confirmed her passing. The association’s Executive Governor, Owolabi Ajasa, announced the sad news in a statement that acknowledged the collective efforts made to support the actress during her illness. Atinuke’s death comes at a particularly difficult time for the Yoruba film industry, which has lost several entertainers to cancer in recent weeks, including veteran actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, who died just days earlier from stage-four cancer.

The depth of Atinuke’s struggle became publicly known about four months before her death when she released a heartfelt video appealing to Nigerians for financial assistance to fund her cancer treatment. In the emotional video, Atinuke revealed that her family had spent a significant amount of money on her medical care and that while her association, TAMPAN, had contributed, it was still not enough to cover her mounting medical bills. She made a desperate plea, stating, “Don’t allow me to die this way; I have two young children. Nigerians, please help me with any amount you can use to help.” Her plea drew an outpouring of sympathy and financial support from fans, colleagues, and well-wishers across the country.

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In a statement signed by the association’s Public Relations Officer, Femi Solaja, on behalf of Ajasa, TAMPAN expressed deep gratitude to everyone who contributed to Atinuke’s treatment. “We sincerely appreciate everyone who contributed financially, offered prayers, encouragement, and support towards the treatment of our dear colleague, Atinuke Remilekun Kareem. Your kindness and sacrifice during her difficult moment meant so much to her family and all of us. We are deeply grateful,” the statement read. The association, however, lamented that despite all the efforts and prayers, the actress succumbed to the illness. “Sadly, despite all our efforts and prayers, Atinuke has passed on and answered the final call. We cannot question the Almighty God. We can only submit to His will and pray that He grants her eternal rest and gives her family, colleagues, and loved ones the strength to bear this painful loss,” the association added.

Atinuke Kareem was well known for her appearances in numerous Yoruba-language productions. She was recognised for her vibrant energy, comic timing, and ability to portray lively, relatable characters, which made her a familiar face to home video audiences across Nigeria and in the diaspora. She was notably among the cast of Ronke Odusanya’s popular comedy series Sàlàyé È, a production that featured other prominent actors such as Mercy Aigbe, Babatunde Hamzat, and Esther Kalajaiye. Atinuke is survived by her two young children and other family members. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by TAMPAN and her family in due course.

Nollywood Actress Atinuke Kareem Dies After Brave Battle with Breast Cancer

Entertainment

“I Cursed the Pastor” — Yemi Solade Reveals Why He Quit Church 13 Years Ago

Published

3 days ago

August 31, 2026

Trends Admin

Yemi Solade

“I Cursed the Pastor” — Yemi Solade Reveals Why He Quit Church 13 Years Ago

Nollywood veteran says his faith remains strong despite stepping away from formal worship, citing a 2013 clash with his pastor over Sunday acting jobs

Veteran Nollywood actor Yemi Solade has opened up about why he stopped attending church services 13 years ago, revealing that the decision stemmed from a clash between his acting career and church expectations, not a rejection of his faith. The 66-year-old actor made the disclosure during a recent interview on the Curiosity Made Me Ask podcast, where he spoke candidly about his spiritual journey, relationships, and public perception.

Solade explained that his departure from organised religion began in 2013 after a pastor at his former church instructed him to stop accepting acting jobs scheduled on Sundays. The directive directly interfered with his livelihood, as acting roles on Sundays often paid his bills and enabled him to contribute financially to the church. Reflecting on the incident, Solade recalled, “I’d been told in the church that I should tell producers not to call me for work on Sundays. And I cursed those pastors. It is from that thing that you said I shouldn’t do on Sunday that I put my hand in my pocket and I drop here.” The actor argued that the same work he was being asked to turn down was what sustained him financially, and he questioned why his faith should be tied to a particular day of the week.

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Solade said staying away from church eventually brought him peace, while dismissing the belief that missing Sunday service would automatically bring misfortune. “A notion that if you don’t attend church, one’s life will nosedive, I have not seen anything change. Rather, I have peace, I do well,” he said. Solade emphasised that his decision does not mean he has abandoned his faith. On the contrary, he maintains that his relationship with God remains central to his life, even without formal church attendance. “God created me in His image. I stopped going to church 13 years ago because I was not finding it funny any longer. Though I am a child of God,” he said. He added, “My life is not orchestrated towards a particular day. There is no Sunday in the Bible. Without God, I will not be alive.”

The actor said he believes worship should not be restricted to a specific day, and that his faith goes beyond attending a formal place of worship. “I know God too well. If you get close to me, you will know that God lives in me,” he stated. Speaking on his approach to human relationships, Solade described himself as someone who keeps a deliberate distance from personal intimacy while engaging broadly with the world. “I do not have a friend. I do not roll with anybody, but I move with the world because God has instructed me to do that for myself,” he explained. He added, “I am loved by a lot of people, and I love a lot of people. But I do not have intimacy with people. It is good for me.”

On the subject of public perception and rumours, the veteran actor appeared unbothered, suggesting that the attention he receives is a reflection of his enduring relevance in the industry. “You will only speculate. You have heard things about me; most of them are not true. If I am not important, people will not talk about me,” he said. The actor, who has been a prominent figure in Nollywood for decades, continues to maintain a thriving career in the entertainment industry, demonstrating that his decision to step away from formal church attendance has not diminished his success or his faith.

“I Cursed the Pastor” — Yemi Solade Reveals Why He Quit Church 13 Years Ago

Entertainment

ANTP Debunks Cancer Rumors as Actor Wale Elesho Undergoes Successful Facial Surgery

Published

3 days ago

August 31, 2026

Trends Admin

Prince Adewale Adeoye Elesho

ANTP Debunks Cancer Rumors as Actor Wale Elesho Undergoes Successful Facial Surgery

Association confirms veteran actor is stable and recovering after operation, urges public to disregard unverified health claims

The Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP) has officially dismissed widespread social media speculation that veteran actor and immediate past president of the association, Prince Adewale Adeoye Elesho, was battling skin cancer. The clarification comes after the actor successfully underwent facial surgery on Saturday, August 29, 2026, and is now reported to be stable and recuperating well at an undisclosed hospital in Lagos State.

Concerns about Elesho’s health first emerged when a visible growth was noticed on the right side of his face during the burial rites of his colleague, veteran actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, in Ilaro, Ogun State, on August 24, 2026. The actor had attended the funeral despite admitting he was not in the best of health. Images and videos from the event quickly circulated online, prompting fans and colleagues to urge him to seek medical attention. The speculation intensified after social media users raised an alarm about the facial mark and urged Elesho to see a dermatologist immediately, pointing out the increased vulnerability of people with albinism to certain skin conditions. Many fans recalled noticing a similar but smaller mark on Elesho’s face during a movie production, noting that it had since grown significantly in size.

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In a statement shared on Facebook on Sunday, the ANTP National Publicity Secretary, Prince Adejonwo Oluwafemi, popularly known as Femson, confirmed that Elesho had undergone surgery and that the growth had been successfully removed. The association urged the public to disregard unverified claims about the actor’s health. The statement read, “We give all glory to God for the successful completion of his operation. In recent days, there have been several posts on social media concerning the health of our dear brother, Prince Adewale Adeoye Elesho, the immediate past President of the Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners – ANTP, with many speculations including skin cancer. We hereby confirm that the operation was successful. He is stable and recuperating well.” In a subsequent update, Femson added, “By God’s grace, his operation was successful. He is doing well and recovering. Thank you all for the calls, prayers and concern. We appreciate you. Continue to pray for his speedy recovery.”

The ANTP did not disclose the specific nature of Elesho’s operation or confirm that he had been diagnosed with skin cancer. The association expressed gratitude to family members, colleagues, friends and well-wishers who had reached out to inquire about his condition and offered prayers. Elesho, a prominent figure in Nigeria’s traditional theatre and entertainment community, has been a respected member of the ANTP and served as its immediate past National President. The health concerns came during a period when the Nigerian entertainment industry was already rallying around Ogogo, who had been battling cancer.

While speaking at Ogogo’s funeral, Elesho described the late actor as a good and honourable person, using the Yoruba word “omoluabi” to sum up who Ogogo was to him. He also shared a personal story about how Ogogo once stood by him on a movie set when he was pressured to do something against his values, demonstrating the late actor’s loyalty and kindness. Despite experiencing his own health difficulties, Elesho still made the effort to attend the funeral and honour Ogogo, a decision that touched many people who witnessed his tribute.

The ANTP’s confirmation of Elesho’s successful surgery has brought relief to his supporters, with many well-wishers flooding social media to express their joy and continue praying for his full recovery. The association has urged members of the public to continue praying for the actor’s speedy recovery and to respect his privacy during this period.